Violin-piano.



No. 846,268. PATNNTND MAN. 5, 1907..y

I. II.. WATSON. VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 61906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAR. 5. A907.VY

LH. WATSON. VIULIN PIANO.

APPLIOATION PILED JAN. 6, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907 P. H. WATSON.

VIULIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED mlm, 190e..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 NkNml mk HK ATTORNEYS 1HE Namws Ps1-Ens 20 wnsnmcmn. D,c.

FRANK HILLIARD WATSON, OF HUNTINGDON, TENNESSEE.

VIOLIN-PIANO.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Batented March 5, 1907.

Application filed January 6,1906. Serial No. 294,924..

T0 cir/ZZ whom t 71am/ concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HILLIARD WAT- sON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Huntingdon, in the county of Carroll and Stateof Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Violin-Piano, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to musical instruments in which a travelingresinous band is moved against the strings on the operator playing thekeys of the keyboard.

The obfect of the invention is to provide a new and improvedVviolin-piano which is simple and durable in construction and arranged toinsure the proper sounding of the treble and bass strings and to allowof conveniently placing the resinous band in position.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and thenpointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Figure l is a cross-section of the improvement on the line l l of Fig.2. Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation of the same on the line 2 2 ofFig. l. Fig. 3 is a reduced plan view showing separate grooved rollerscarrying separate resinous bands or belts for sounding the treble andbass strings of the piano. Fig. .4 is an enlarged plan view of theimprovement. Fig. 5 is an enlarged crosssection of a rail and the meansfor pressing the endless band against the strings. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of the driving device for the rollers over which pass theendless bands. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the means for pressing anendless band against a string, the means being in front when the key ispressed.

The treble strings A and the bass strings A are stretched in the usualmanner over the sounding-board B of the piano, and the ends of the saidstrings are connected with the tuning-pins C and the hitch-pins C, ofwhich the tuning-pins are mounted in the usual manner in the wrest-plankD, while the A hitch-pins C are secured on a metallic support D', boththe wrest-plank D and the support D being secured in the usual manner tothe back frame E of the piano, the several parts described beingarranged within a suitable casing F. Now in order to sound the treblestrings A and the bass strings A two separate and distinct resinousbands or belts G and G are provided, passing over grooved rollers H andH', provided at their ends with pulleys H2 H3, over which pass belts HA1H5, (see Fig. 6,) also passing over pulleys H6 H7, secured to acrank-shaft HS, adapted to be turned by suit able pedal mechanism H9 orby a motor or the like.

By reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the pulleys H2 Hs aredifferently proportioned relative to the pulleys H3 H7, so that when theshaft HS is turned the rollers H H are rotated at different speeds of apredetermined ratio, so that a traveling motion vis given to the endlessbelts or bands G and G at a corresponding speed. The band G ispreferably narrow in comparison to the broader band G, and the roller His preferably rotated at ahigher rate of speed than the roller H toinsure a proper sounding of the treble strings A and the bass stringsA', respectively.

It is understood that for sounding the treble strings A in the propermanner it is desirable to have a comparatively narrow or light resinousband traveling at a high rate of speed, and for properly sounding thebass strings A a broader or heavier band traveling at a lower rate ofspeed is desirable.

The rollers H and H are j ournaled in removable bearings H10 toallow ofconveniently removing either roller H or H through a suitable opening Fin the corresponding endof the casing F. By this arrangement thereplacing of a worn-out band by a new one can be facilitated.

Each of the bands G and G also passes over pulleys I, liournaled inbearings I, secured to the rear face of a rail J, made in sections, onefor each band G G, each section being mounted to slide transversely onrods J secured to the back frame E of the piano, and each section of thesaid rail J is pressed in a forward direction by springs J 2, coiled onthe rods J. The forward ends of the rods J are screw-threaded to receivethumb-nuts J3 to allow of regulating the position of the sections of therail J, with a view to hold the bands G and G taut and also to allow ofmoving the sections of the rail J inwardly when it is desired to replacea worn-out band G or G by a new one. However, each of the IOO sectionsof tho rail .l is pressed forwardly by the springs di?, so as to holdthe eorresponding band. (l or taut.

Each olE the pulleys l is set approximately at an. angle ot l'orty-iiyedegrees (see rigs. t, 2, and l) to allow the upper run olI a band (i orG to pass transversely and at rigl to the soun(ling-board ll l'rompulley l. to the top ol the eturesponding roller l'l and. ll and on onoside oll the string. the

bottom run oll the baud` returning and passing :trom the bottom ot theroller ll and ll/ to the bottom oll the next l`ollo\\'ing pulley l. Atthe ends ol eaeh roller ll or lll the band (l or G passes over separatepulleys l?, iournaled in brackets l, attached to the eorrespondingseetion ol the rail l, the band extending trom one pulley l to theother, so that a oontinuous trayeling motion is giyen to theeorrespomling band (l or t/ on rotatt lng the roller lt or ll, and theupper runs ot the bands G and (r/ extend. elose to a correspondingstringA or and at right angles thereto. run ol` the band (t and t/ graduallyin engagement with its string il or ,Y to sound the saine the lollowingarrangement is made: l

friction-roller li is adapted to engage the up- 5 per run ol the band (lor to press the said uwer run in. eneaeeimnt with the eorre-L spendingstring il or it, and the said lrietionroller l is piurmiled in an armly. attaelied to or .torming part ot a rock-shalt lil. disposedyertieally and mounted to turn in suitabley bearings lf. arranged on arail li, seeured by braeliets lf to the easing lw or to the bael trainel5. lhe shalt; li] is pressed by a torsion-spring li. to normally holdthe friction-roller li. out oll engagement with the upper run. ot theband (l or tif. and on the lower end ot the roeli-sha'l't li? seeured agrooved pulley N, on which winds a belt or l oordv NQ connected. with ahook-bolt X?, held in a. loyer t), it'ulerumed on the rail li, eaehhook-bolt N2 ljieing proyided with a nut butting against the leyer G, soas to allow adjustment ot the hooly-bolt and the. oord. N to bring therook-shi tt .lf3 normally in proper positionthat is. with the'trietion-roller K out ol engagement with the upper run ol.E the band (lor tt. swinging motion is giy'en to the leyer t), then the eord Nl pullson the pulley N to turn the shatt; lit againt the tension ol the springl to more the trietion-roller .li in engagement with the upper run olthe band ttf .so as to press the said upper run against the string t yit angles the op ol' the Now in order to moye this upper E lllhen.howeyer, an upward- 1 owing to the trayel t former. Now when the liey Plis pressed then an upward-swinging inotion is giyen to the leyer t) toroel the shalt lig with :t yiew to press tlse upper run ot the band or tin engagement with the etu'responding treble or bass .string or to soundthe same. The 'iaelf-roeler (Y: is proyided with a damper-springtl",engaging a damper-lewr tl, e: rrying the usual damper (V, normallyenging the string or it being understood at on pressing the piano-hey l)the damper mo\ed out ol: engagement with the string at the time thestring is engaged and sounded by the eorresponding upper run ol: theband t? or (gl/ when the instrument is in use7 a. eontinuous rotarymotion is given to the rollers ll and ll, as prtwiously deseribed.. sothat the bands and G are caused to trayel at a. dil'- lierent rate otspeed with the upper runs oli the said bands adjaeent to theeorresponding l strings A\ and it. rl"he perl'ormer on pressing l thekeys l) eauses the eorrespmiding runs to be l'oreed oyerinengagementwith the strings it and so as to soundl the same in liart mony with thekeys pressed. l As shown in Fig. l, the rollers ll and ll/ are locateddireetlv under the rest-plank l) and between the strings ,Y and thebaeltrame E. By this eonstruetion an exreedl ingly eo'mpaet soundingdeyiee is proyided jwhieh talies up eomparatiyely little room and at thesame time brings the sounding deyiee in the same relation to the stringsto properly sound the same. ly making the eonneetion between the leys l)and the roel(- shz'rtt lijf in. the manner deseribed `very little ypowerrequired on the part olE the per- Ylormer to leep the band (l or G inengagei ment with a string i alter the eorresponding key is pressed-thatis7 yery little power is l required to hold the liey in a` pressedposition. as then the arm li stands approximately at right angles to theband (et or (l. (See Fig. 7.) ll'hen the player releases the pressedkey, the spring l returns the shalt ligand arm l to normal position torelease y the band G or G.

The yiolin-piano shown and deseribed is yery simple and durable ineonstruetion/y Composed olt Compa-ratiyely lew parts not liable to geteasily out ot order.

llaying thus deseribed my in'reiitioii7 l e aim as new and desire toseeure by Letters Patentl l. it yiolin-piano provided with a narrow l gat i resinous trayeling band i'or engagennnt with the treble strings anda. broad resinous band lior engagement with the bass strings.

2. A yiolin-piauo haying a resinous trayeling' band lor engagement withthe` stringsj a plurality ot inclined pulleys over whieh passes tl esaid band, and a remoyable grooyed and driven .roller lor the said band.

3. A Violin-piano haring a resinous travel- IOS ing band i'or engagementwith the strings, a plurality of inclined pulleys over which passes thesaid band7 and a removable grooved and driven roller jr'or the saidband,

the latter extending transverse of the sounding-board and the saidroller being arranged below the wrest-plank and between the strings andthe back post of the violin-piano.

4. A violin-piano provided with an endless band for`r sounding thepiano-strings, a grooved roller over which passes the band, inclinedpulleys over which passes the said band, supports for the pulleysextending at one side thereof and means for keeping the said band taut.

5. A violin-piano provided with an endless band` for sounding thepiano-strings, a grooved roller over which passes the band, inclinedpulleys over which passes the said band7 bearings for supporting thepulleys and extending at one side thereof and springpressed means forkeeping the said band taut.

6. A violin-piano provided with an endless band 'for sounding thepiano-strings, a grooved roller over which passes the band, pulleys overwhich passes the said band, and a spring-pressed movable rail carryingthe said pulleys.

7. A violin-piano provided with an endless band for sounding thepiano-strings, a grooved roller over which passes the band, pulleys overwhich passes the said band, a rail carrying the said pulleys7 fixed rodsfor the rail to slide on7 and springs coiled on the said rodsandpressing the said rail for holding the said band taut.

8. A violin-piano provided with an endless band for sounding thepiano-strings, a grooved roller over which passes the band, pulleys overwhich passes the said band, a rail carrying the said pulleys7 fixed rodsior the rail to slide on, springs coiled on the said rods and pressingthe said rail for holding the said band taut, and adjusting-nutsscrewing on the said rods against the said rail.

9. A violin-piano provided with a casing having an opening in its end,an endless band for sounding the piano-strings, a grooved roller overwhich passes the band, pulleys over which passes the said band, andremovable bearings for removably supporting the said roller to allow ofrunning the roller sidewise through the opening in the end or thepiano-casing.

l0. A violin-piano provided with a resinous traveling band forengagement with the strings of the piano, a spring-pressed rockshaftdisposed vertically and provided at its upper end with means forengaging the said band to press the latter against a string, a pulley onthe lower end of said rock-shaft, a cord passing over the said pulley7 alever, i an adjustable connection between the lever and the said cord7and key-controlled means for imparting a swinging movement to saidlever.

ll. A violin-piano provided with a resinous traveling band forengagement with the strings ol the piano, a spring-pressed rockshaftdisposed vertically, a rail carrying i bearings in which the rock-shaftis mounted to turn, the said rock-shaft being provided at its upper endwith means -for engaging the said band to press the latter against astring, a pulley on the lower end of said rock-shaft7 a cord passingover said pulley, key-controlled means for exerting tension on the saidcord, the said means including a lever l'ulcrumed on the said rail7 anda device adjustable in the said lever and connected with the cord, andmeans `for adjusting the said device.

12. A violin-piano provided with a resinous traveling band forengagement with the strings oi the piano, a spring-pressed rocksha'lt, afriction-roller carried by said rockshaft for engaging the band to pressthe latter against a string7 a pulley on the said rock-shalt, a cordpassing over said pulley7 a hook-bolt connected with the cord, a leverin which the hook-bolt is adjustably held, and means controlled by apiano-key for imparting swinging motion to the said lever.

13. A violin-piano provided with resinous traveling bands7 one forengagement with the treble strings, and the other for engagement withthe bass strings, rollers over which pass the said bands, means fordriving the i rollers at different speeds to cause the band for thetreble strings to travel at a higher l rate of speed than the band forthe bass l strings, inclined pulleys for the bands, to l pass over andspring-pressed rails carrying i the said pulleys, the rails beinglocated opl posite the corresponding rollers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK HILLIARD VATSON.

litnesses C. M. VATsoN, O. C. GrLEs.

IOO

